Poet · 1343 – 1400

Geoffrey Chaucer

Little-Known Facts

  • He held practical posts as a customs official and clerk of the king's works.
  • He was the first writer buried in what became Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Myths & Misconceptions

Why is Chaucer hard to read today?

He wrote in Middle English, an older form of the language; with a little help his vivid storytelling and humour come through clearly.